I often have the extreme pleasure of flying the Asian sector of NWA. The only A/L of USA reg going to and from Manila. The MNL/NRT or MNL/SEL flights are mostly staffed by young energetic Filipino F/A who really work extra hard to even make the folks in economy feel welcome and cared for. Conversely we always get some very old looking American grandma right out of central casting mumbling something about "federal regulations require blah blah blah..." Then you don't see her again until you deplane and she makes her way to the mike again... " All passengers must fill out immigration forms yada yada yada.." I was told these senior F/A's make more in one month than the average Manila based full time F/A makes in six months! How much Do the Asian F/A's make? Anyone have any idea? I know they are flown to the states and given the same training as the rank and file USA crews. Any help would be apprecaited. I'm not knocking the senior F/A's, just wonder that the difference in pay is. Thanks.

BKK based NW attendant will make 453-500 USD per month before taxes
which is 18,000-20,000 Bhat per month

MNLNW/UA make about 26,150-28,000 Pesos to start about same as 500-550 USD per month. uniform is provided with basic medical care and flight benefits (and a US crew visa is not provided cause most of these attendants only fly no farther than NRT)

The NRT based ones (japanese) get a much better salary and comparable to the US paid ones.

its all about saving money! use more and more BKK/MNL base attendants, pay them a lot less.

There Are Those Who Believe That There May Yet Be Other Airlines Who Even Now Fight To Survive Beyond The Heavens

Can foreign crews be used a U.S. domestic sector which is a continuation of on international sector? & where is the LINE drawn?

If so, why don't more U.S. carriers use low cost foreign crews domestically.

Eg. flight operates MNL/NRT as above, operated by ALL Philipino crews (their must be some senior Philipino flight attendants). At NRT crew change, to another Philipino crew to MSP, then change to another Philipino crew to fly to LAX then onto whereever internationally?

If a flight originates in USA but final destination is foreign, then surely no one can restrict where the crew comes from? As flights to Canada from USA are international, couldn't US & Canadian airlines, use these foreign crews extensively on these flights?

OK, I'm knocking them in the respect that they sit around on their prunes and rake in the phat dollaz' while the people who truly hump get wino change for pay. LOVE the fact that people are willing to smile and treat me with sincere respect and don't hide in the galley while I ride the call button for another coffee or need to clear my tray SO I can go pee. I always express my thanks for the energy these people extend to me, As for the bitter old hags who look as tired and ugly/old as I am.... stay home!

My friend at NW is not allowed to do Domestic or even NRT-US flights, (some are allowed but those who actually have the US visas are smart enough to go to the US and never come back to Thailand/Philippines. Thus a reason why NW does not give a free-ride to even those crew in BKK/MNL who have US tourist visas. but my other friend at OZ who is BKK base is allowed to do US-ICN only upon request if an open bid is left available, but they are not allowed on official scheduled bid to do a ICN-US flight. It has to do with crew visa payments and charges, they come from countries where a US visa is needed.

NRT and ICN base do not need a visa as Korean/Japanese citizens.

[Edited 2006-01-17 05:56:24]

There Are Those Who Believe That There May Yet Be Other Airlines Who Even Now Fight To Survive Beyond The Heavens

Quoting Simpilicity (Reply 4):Can foreign crews be used a U.S. domestic sector which is a continuation of on international sector? & where is the LINE drawn?

Okay this is the 4th time I have written about this on A.net and the second time this week.

Japan and Korea are visa waiver countries. Japanese and Koreans only need a passport and a customs form for entry into the U.S. They can stay for up to 90 days. They do not need a tourist visa. Almost everyone else in Asia needs a visa. (I believe HKG residents still have the rights from the colony days and are visa waiver).

NW Japanese flight attendents are hired under JAPANESE law with JAPANESE contracts. Which means that NW must by japanese law pay into the national insurance and retirement funds. (No sidestepping here). These flight attendents can fly routes that originate in Japan or have Japan as their destination.

The biggest issues for having cheap foreign crews fly on U.S. Domestic are Labor laws and visa. Once they start working within the United States, they need a green card/working visa. To have a green card, they must have a residence in the U.S. which means they are entitled to U.S. Labor laws and the rights of comparable means to their U.S. native counterpart. Failing to do so would be a violation of the bill of rights and thus unconstitutional.

There are many here who talk about NW hiring more foreigners to fly both international and even in Domestic. The only way that this will happen is if the U.S. labor and the Immigration laws are greatly overhauled. If that happens, every company will be hiring foreigners to work on U.S. soil and firing U.S. citizens. But that would be more like indentured slavery...unconstituional.

Its not like making shoes in Thailand. They will not see or work on U.S. soil.

I am not sure how it works for foreign carriers, but many of those companies I believe have special visas for their crews. They cannot however engage in employment while on U.S. soil during this time.